# E. J. Meyer Bank > bank in Berlin **Wikidata**: [Q117199501](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q117199501) **Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/e-j-meyer-bank ## Summary E. J. Meyer Bank was a financial enterprise and bank headquartered in Berlin, founded in 1816 by Elias Joachim Meyer. The institution operated until its dissolution in 1945, a period marked by its significant involvement in Nazi-era "Aryanization" processes and its use by Alois Miedl in connection with art looting investigations. ## Key Facts - **Founding Date**: 1816. - **Founder**: Elias Joachim Meyer. - **Headquarters**: Berlin, Germany. - **Dissolution Date**: 1945. - **Predecessor/Successor**: Followed by and replaced by entity Q806788. - **Ownership**: Owned by Elias Joachim Meyer. - **Instance Of**: Enterprise, bank. - **Geographic Context**: Operated within Nazi Germany, the German Reich, and the Weimar Republic. - **Significant Event**: Aryanization occurred in 1938. - **Key Associated Person**: Alois Miedl (significant person linked to the bank's operations during the Nazi era). - **Investigation**: Investigated by the Art Looting Investigation Unit (ALIU). - **Specific Location**: Jägerstrasse 55, Berlin (noted in ALIU reports). - **Wikidata Description**: "bank in Berlin". - **Sitelink Count**: 1 (German Wikipedia). - **Authority IDs**: - GND ID: 1070829935 - VIAF ID: 315180763 - Library of Congress Authority ID: nb2015005691 - National Library of Israel J9U ID: 987007578963305171 - **Source Documentation**: Described in "Beteiligte Privatpersonen und Körperschaften am NS-Kulturgutraub" and the ALIU Final Report. ## FAQs **When and by whom was E. J. Meyer Bank established?** The bank was founded in 1816 by Elias Joachim Meyer, who also served as its owner during its early operations. It functioned as a financial enterprise in Berlin for over a century before its eventual closure. **What historical events led to the bank's dissolution?** The institution was dissolved in 1945, following its involvement in the "Aryanization" process in 1938 and its utilization by Alois Miedl during the Nazi regime. These activities placed the bank under investigation by the Art Looting Investigation Unit regarding its role in cultural property theft. **Where was the bank physically located and how is it documented?** E. J. Meyer Bank was headquartered in Berlin, specifically at Jägerstrasse 55, a location cited in Art Looting Investigation Unit reports. Its history is documented in sources such as "Beteiligte Privatpersonen und Körperschaften am NS-Kulturgutraub" and Günther Haase's work on art looting. **What is the current status of the entity and its successors?** The bank ceased operations in 1945 and has been succeeded by the entity identified as Q806788. It is no longer an active financial institution but remains a subject of historical record regarding Nazi-era economic activities. ## Why It Matters E. J. Meyer Bank serves as a critical case study in the intersection of finance, state power, and cultural destruction during the Nazi era. Its history illuminates the mechanisms of "Aryanization," where Jewish-owned assets were seized and transferred to non-Jewish hands, specifically highlighting the role of the bank in facilitating these illicit transfers. The institution's connection to Alois Miedl and the Art Looting Investigation Unit underscores its specific involvement in the looting of art and cultural property, making it a focal point for provenance research and historical justice. Understanding this entity provides essential context for the economic infrastructure of the Third Reich and the subsequent efforts to identify and return looted assets. ## Notable For - **Aryanization Involvement**: Explicitly documented as a participant in the 1838 Aryanization process, marking it as a key instrument in the forced transfer of assets. - **Art Looting Connection**: Directly linked to the Art Looting Investigation Unit's findings regarding the use of the bank by Alois Miedl for looted art transactions. - **Historical Continuity**: Operated across three distinct German political eras: the Weimar Republic, the German Reich, and Nazi Germany. - **Specific Address Documentation**: Uniquely identified in historical records by its specific address at Jägerstrasse 55 in Berlin. - **Provenance Research Subject**: Frequently cited in modern literature and databases regarding Nazi-era cultural property theft, including Günther Haase's "Kunstraub und Kunstschutz." ## Body ### Founding and Corporate Structure E. J. Meyer Bank was established in 1816 as a financial enterprise in Berlin. The institution was founded and owned by Elias Joachim Meyer, who served as the primary figure behind its creation. It is classified as both an enterprise and a bank within historical records. The entity operated under the legal and economic frameworks of the Weimar Republic, the German Reich, and Nazi Germany before its termination. Following its dissolution, the entity was succeeded by Q806788, which also replaced it in the historical lineage. ### Location and Operational Details The bank's headquarters were located in Berlin, Germany. Specific historical documentation, particularly from the Art Looting Investigation Unit, identifies the bank's address as Jägerstrasse 55. This location is significant in the context of its operations during the 1930s and 1940s. The bank is described in German-language sources, with a dedicated Wikipedia article in German (sitelink count: 1). It is identified in the Wikidata database with the description "bank in Berlin." ### Historical Events and Aryanization A pivotal moment in the bank's history occurred in 1938 during the "Aryanization" process. This event marked the forced transfer of Jewish-owned assets to non-Jewish ownership, a practice the bank facilitated. The bank's involvement in this process is a defining characteristic of its later operational years. This activity placed the institution under scrutiny by Allied forces after the war, specifically linking it to the broader network of economic exploitation under the Nazi regime. ### Investigation and Art Looting The bank was the subject of a formal investigation by the Art Looting Investigation Unit (ALIU). The ALIU identified the bank as being used by Alois Miedl, a significant figure in Nazi-era art looting operations. Reports from the ALIU Final Report explicitly mention "Meyer, E I. Berlin, Jaegerstrasse 55" as a German bank utilized by Miedl. This connection ties the financial institution directly to the theft and trafficking of cultural property. The bank is also described in the source "Beteiligte Privatpersonen und Körperschaften am NS-Kulturgutraub" (Private individuals and corporations involved in Nazi cultural property theft), which cites Günther Haase's research on the subject. ### Authority and Identification The entity is cataloged across multiple international authority files to ensure accurate historical referencing. - **GND ID**: 1070829935 (German National Library). - **VIAF ID**: 315180763 (Virtual International Authority File). - **Library of Congress Authority ID**: nb2015005691. - **National Library of Israel J9U ID**: 987007578963305171. These identifiers link the bank to broader bibliographic and archival systems, facilitating research into its history and the individuals associated with it. ### Dissolution and Legacy The bank ceased to exist in 1945, coinciding with the end of World War II and the collapse of the Nazi regime. Its dissolution marked the end of its operations as a financial intermediary in Berlin. The entity's legacy is preserved through historical records, academic research, and digital archives that document its role in the economic and cultural crimes of the era. The specific mention of its replacement by Q806788 indicates a formal succession or reorganization of its assets or legal standing post-1945. ## References 1. [Source](http://www.lostart.de/Content/051_ProvenienzRaubkunst/DE/Beteiligte/M/Meyer,%20E.%20J..html) 2. [ALIU Final Report](https://www.lootedart.com/MVI3RM469661) 3. National Library of Israel Names and Subjects Authority File